Top Tips from Travel Advisors for Long International Flights

Everyone seems to have their own approach to tackling a long international flight. Do you watch three back-to-back movies? Bring your favorite eye mask? We asked our A-List advisors to share their advice — and with hundreds of collective in-flight hours logged, they delivered some smart suggestions. Bon voyage.

Embrace the Long Haul

“I love long flights. I look forward to them. In fact, I would much rather take an eight-hour flight from New York to Rome than a three-hour flight from New York to Miami. It sounds strange, but you get treated so much better. Here are my suggestions:

• Always pack pajamas to change for an overnight flight.
• Never sleep flying east if your flight is less than 10 hours. The rising sun will give you jet lag.
• Before your flight, put together a list of all the things you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time — long flights offer the best uninterrupted time.
• Go to sleep.
• Limit or restrict alcohol.
• If you’re aboard a shorter overnight flight, go right to sleep. I like to stay up late the night before so I’m really tired when I board. Don’t look at the in-flight movies. Just sleep!
• I am a total carry-on person. I can do a carry-on for three weeks. I haven’t checked a bag in over 15 years.” — Jack Ezon, Embark Beyond

Help Your Body Decompress

“I try to hydrate well prior to boarding — then, 10 grams of melatonin does the rest of the work for me.” — Amalia Lazarov, Travelicious

Plan Your First Day

“As soon as I get on the plane, I change time zones and try to get into the mentality of counting the hours based on the visiting country’s time. When I arrive, I try to stay awake no matter what by scheduling fun activities on the very first day (for example, meeting up with a friend for dinner, taking a long walk, etc.). This approach makes it harder for me to fall asleep, even if I feel like I’m ready to collapse.” — Christos Stergiou, True Trips

Keep Things Light

“Wear loose clothing, stay hydrated, try to avoid excess salt and sugar, power through your sleep schedule, and pack light.” — Petros Zissimos, Hellenic Holidays

Say No to Napping

“I’m no stranger to long-haul flights — I consider anything under eight hours short. It’s essential to try and adjust to the destination’s sleep schedule before your flight as best as possible. Doing this always helps when you arrive at your new destination. Additionally, never, ever take a nap during your first day. Doing that can ruin your sleep schedule for the whole trip.” — Andy Moran, Kensington Tours